Using Inquiry Projects to Teach Language Arts

4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday, November 19, 2011 Palmer House/Chicago Room, Fifth Floor Session K.22

Rob King Cindy Smith Chris Erickson

Using Project-Based Lessons to Teach Language Arts

10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Friday, November 11, 2011 Room 110 Program Book Number 2115

Rob King, Writer in Residence

Karcher Middle School

Rob King

PBL Writer in Residence Karcher Middle School Burlington, Wisconsin 3

Cindy Smith

PBL Teacher Karcher Middle School Burlington, Wisconsin 4

5

Police Sketch Artists

Descriptive Writing Inquiry Experience

7

Photojournalism Project

How does a picture capture the history of your community?

Photojournalism Project Background:

 Working with the public library and historical society, choose an aspect of your community to research (building, event, club, etc.).

 Capture photographs of your subject today to discuss the impact and significance that it has upon citizens.

 Use any past photos provided to you by the historical society or public library on a photo page to illustrate any research that you have written about.

9

Photojournalism Project Requirements:

 Think about the Burlington community. How can a photograph illustrate how people think, feel, act, etc.?

 Choose a topic to photograph. Example topics: Liar’s Club, Underground Railroad, Schools, Buildings, etc.

 Take at least five photographs of your topic. For each photograph, provide the following information: – Date photograph was taken – What does this photograph tell communities about the history of Burlington?

– What can this photograph tell people about the city of Burlington?

10

11

12

13

14

15

Photojournalism Project

Write a five-paragraph essay about your topic. Focus on the history of your topic and how it plays a current role in our community.

I. Introduction II. 1st Body Paragraph (1st Main Idea) III. 2nd Body Paragraph (2nd Main Idea) IV. 3rd Body Paragraph (3rd Main Idea) V. Conclusion 16

Pirates of the Caribbean

Narrative Writing Inquiry Experience

Pirates of the Caribbean

18

19

20

21

22

Fairy Tale Characters on Trial

How do fiction elements relate to real world experiences?

Fairy Tale Characters on Trial

Unit One Project

The Task

  You will choose to take on the role of a lawyer or a witness in one of the following high profile cases.

Be sure to review your client’s case and any charges brought against them carefully.

25

Vocabulary

 

Plaintiff-

A person who brings a civil action to a court of law.

Defendant

- A person against whom an action or claim is brought in a court of law.



Prosecution Lawyer

- the attorney who represents a plaintiff (the suing party) in a lawsuit.



Defense Lawyer

- The attorney representing the defendant in a lawsuit or criminal prosecution.

26

Case No. 10021

 Snow White vs. Queen Grimhilde  The plaintiff, Snow White, is suing the defendant, Queen Grimhilde, for:  Illegal Substance Trafficking and Distribution (Poison Apple)   Fraud Attempt of Murder in the First Degree 27

Fairy Tale Characters on Trial

Step One:

Read your assigned fairy tale.

Step Two:

As a large group, create a PowerPoint presentation to share the following information.

 What is the plot of your story? You may summarize or bullet-point this information.

 Where is the setting (use a picture too)?

28

Fairy Tale Characters on Trial Step Two:

 What is the conflict of your story?

 Describe the mood and why you selected that emotion/feeling.

 What is the theme of the story?

You will present this PowerPoint before your trial occurs.

29

Fairy Tale Characters on Trial Step Three:



Use the computers to create evidence for your team.

The prosecution lawyer should work with the prosecution witness and the defense lawyer should work with the defense witness.  Your evidence should work to prove the innocence of your client or the guilt of the other character. Then answer the following question:

How does your evidence symbolize the innocence or guilt of a character?

30

Fairy Tale Characters on Trial Step Four:

Complete this packet for your assigned role. 31

Fairy Tale Characters on Trial Opening of the Trial (Script during the trial): Bailiff:

“Please rise, the court is now in session. The Honorable ______________ presiding.”

Everyone should remain standing until the judge is seated.

Judge:

(Bailiff’s Name)________________, What is today’s case?

Bailiff:

Your Honor, today’s case is ___________________.

Judge:

Is the prosecution team ready? Is the defense team ready?

Attorneys:

Yes, your Honor. (Always use your Honor when addressing the judge.) 32

Fairy Tale Characters on Trial Opening of the Trial (Script during the trial): Prosecution Opening Statement Defense Opening Statement Direct Examination:

The prosecution lawyer calls the prosecution witness to the stand and asks clear and simple questions that allow the prosecution witness to explain his/her side of the story.

Cross Examination:

The defense lawyer questions the prosecution witness to try to prove that the witness is lying or can’t remember the details. Defense lawyer may share evidence after questioning.

33

Fairy Tale Characters on Trial Opening of the Trial (Script during the trial): Direct Examination:

The defense lawyer calls the defense witness and questions them to explain his/her side of the story.

Cross Examination:

The prosecution lawyer questions the defense witness to try to prove that the witness is lying or can’t remember the details.

Prosecution lawyer may share evidence after questioning.

Prosecution Closing Argument Defense Closing Argument Jury Deliberation

34

35

Commercial Critics

Persuasive Writing Inquiry Experience

Commercial Critics

37

38

Persuasive Style Podcasts

How do authors use persuasive techniques to capture their audience?

Persuasive Style Podcasts

40

Persuasive Style Podcasts What do I have to do for this project?

In this project, you will create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) or Podcast for any nonfiction topic that you think it is important to bring awareness to. When you topic is teacher-approved, follow the directions to complete this project.

41

Persuasive Style Podcasts Podcast/PSA Directions:

1. Create an outline on a separate piece of paper. What are you going to talk about and when?

2. Show your outline to the teacher and conference on the strengths and areas for improvement. 42

Persuasive Style Podcasts Podcast/PSA Directions:

3. After your teacher conference, begin to use the Garage Band to create your podcast or iMovie to create your PSA. You may check out a Flip video camera, record footage, and then download your video to the iMovie program.

4. When you think your podcast/PSA is complete, check over the rubric to make sure you have met all of the requirements. 5. Using three paragraphs, answer the following question:

“How do authors use persuasive techniques to capture their audience?”

43

Table Builders

Essay Inquiry Experience

Table Builders

45

46

47

Documentary Film Making

What social problems exist in our global community, and how do people influence society?

Documentary Film Making

Background

Your role for this project is to create a I-Movie which documents present or past issues in our world and how they were or could be resolved.

To locate a topic that interests you, research current events and read about what is discussed in books, magazines, or in newspapers when selecting your topic. Don’t forget to also consider topics you have learned about in social studies (world history and U.S. history) or science (physical science or biology) class during seventh and eighth grade. 49

Documentary Film Making Instructions and Things You’ll Need:

Books on historical period, newspapers or online resources. This is a great resource for current events: http://www.csun.edu/~hcedu013/cevents.html

50

Documentary Film Making Craft the Driving Question:

Think of the guiding or driving question for our project: What social problems exist in our global community, and how do people influence society?

 How will you integrate your topic to make your question specific to your project? 51

Documentary Film Making



Step 1, Research, Research, Research….

Complete your research! During this phase you will not only be taking notes on major events or ideas, but you will also begin to narrow your focus.



Step 2, Make an Outline

Create an outline for your project. This is not a time line! Use the outline to record your story/facts and start organizing your research into scenes. 

Step 3, Teacher Conference

Meet with the teacher to run through your ideas, questions or concerns.

52

Documentary Film Making



Step 4, Create the Movie

Start putting your information from the outline into the iMovie program. Make sure that you have your

facts and any details that are necessary to introduce your guiding question, ask your guiding question and then answer your guiding question

.



Step 5, Look for Pictures

Look for art. This can help enhance your ideas or emotions for your documentary. You can even use the digital camera to take your own pictures if you need to.

53

Documentary Film Making



Step 6, Give Credit Where it is Due

When you are finished with your documentary make sure you cite any sources you used. Use MLA format. 54

Planning and Assessing Projects

Aids for Project-Based Classrooms

56

57

Using Inquiry Projects to Teach Language Arts Rob King

Writer in Residence Session K.22

Cindy Smith

PBL Teacher

Chris Erickson

President

Visit Thoughtful Learning at Booth 1213

For this PowerPoint and for Word templates of the handouts, go to www.thoughtfullearning.com/NCTE2011